Wire braid forming apparatus

ABSTRACT

A single strand of wire from a supply spool is passed through a carriage-mounted, electromechanically actuated coding wand. As the carriage traverses its line of travel the wire is woven about a fixed linear array of pegs in a desired pattern controlled by a tape reader and timed by preselected electro-optically actuated coding logic. The end of each wire is automatically routed to a desired position for termination on a connector. Repeated reciprocating traversing of the carriage permits the fabrication of a wire braid of particular use in wire braid memories.

United States Patent [1 1 Bennett et al.

[ July 3,1973

' 22 Filed:

[ WIRE BRAID FORMING APPARATUS [75] inventors: Joseph C. Bennett, Lisle;William A.

Reimer, Wheatom'Hilary M. Winters, Forest Park, all of Ill.

[73] Assig nee: GTE Automatic Electric Laboratories, Incorporated,Northlake, lll.

Dec. 3, 1971 211 Appl. No.: 204,500

52 U.S. Cl. 297203 MM 5 1] Int. Cl H011 43/00 [58] Field of Search29/203 MM, 203 MW,

[56] v References Cited 2 A 2 UNITED STATES PATENTS g} 3,451,129 6/1969Alonso et al 29/203 MM 3.639365. 2/l972 Chu 29/203 MMPrimziflExaminer-Thomas H. Eager Attorney-K. Mullerheim, B. E. Franz andTheodore C. Jay, Jr.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A single strand of wire from a supply spool is passedthrough a carriage-mounted, electromechanically actuated coding wand. Asthe carriage traverses its line of travel the wire is woven about afixed linear array of pegs in a desired pattern controlled by a tapereader and timed by preselected electro-optically actuated coding logic.The end of each wire is automatically routed to a desired position fortermination on a connector. Repeated reciprocating traversing of thecarriage permits-the fabrication of a wire braid of particular use inwire braid memories.

20 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PAIENTED I975 srm mar 10 v PATENTEU JUL 3I913 SEEEI 030$ 10 3.742.574 am our 10 II II II III II II II II II II IIII PAIENTEDJULB I975 II II II II II II II II II I II II 1/ II II II IIII II II 1 I 600 I UDUUUUDU DUE] EH] DU [H] [H] DECIDED II] FIG. 2B

PAIENTED JlIL3 I873 SIEU 090F10 memenm ms 3.742.574 SICH 10W 10 FIG. 7

WAND POSITION 0" 242 CODING INSTRUCTION WAND POSITION 254 STROBEGENERATOR FIG. 8

WIRE BRAID FORMING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention The present invention relates most generally to the 5manufacture of digital computer memories and in particular to apparatusfor fabricating wire braid for readonly memories.

2. Description of the Prior Art The wire braid transformer read-onlymemory has been known for a number of years. Essentially, the memoryuses one wire for each word to be stored and one core for each bit ofthe output word. If a given word wire passes through a particular core abinary l is stored at that bit position; if not, a binary .0 is storedthere. When a current pulse is passed along a word line the coresthrough which it passes will produce large voltage pulses on theirmulti-turn sense windings due to high inductive coupling. Cores whichare by-passed by the word line produce a negligible output voltage. Bymonitoring the outputs of all cores simultaneously, the data which ispermanently stored in the memory is read out. Since linear magneticmaterial is typically used in the transformer memory, cores with airgaps may be used. Thus the memory braid wires may be woven in thedesired pattern of ones and zeros and then placed over U-sha'ped coreswhich are then capped with ferrite material. For a fuller discussion ofbraid memories reference may be had to an article entitled Weaving aBraided Memory That's Fast and Inexpensive" by John J. Marino andJonathan J. Sirota which appeared at pp. 121-126 of the Sept. 18, 1967issue of Electronics.

The economic potential of the braid memoryis di rectly dependent uponthe ease with which the memory braid may be produced. Prior to thepresent invention the weaving of memory braid has been accomplishedthrough the use of a modified Jacquard loom the basic structure andoperation of which have been well known for over I50 years. A variant ofthe Jacquard loom used in the manufacture of memory braid is describedin US. Pat. No. 3,451,129 which issued to R. L. Alonzo et al on June 24,I969. Basically, this is a tape controlled loom which weaves a largeplurality of wires in a prescribed code about a group of removable metalseparators. Although having been found acceptable for weaving memorybraid the Jacquard loom is a highly complex electro-mechanicalapparatus. It requires a matrix of solenoid actuated cross-bars and acombination of heddle rods and one heddle for each address wire in thememory. Once the apparatus is set up with one wire coupled to eachheddle a single bunch of address wires is formed. In operation, the loomunder the control of a digital tape reader segregates selected ones ofthe address wires from the bunch thus forming a shed. At this point ametal separator is manually inserted in the shed and the heddles arethen returned to.

finished original position. The sequence is then repeated with themanual insertion of a separator in each shed for each core location. Itwill'be clear that handling all address wires to be used in a memorysimulta- OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION From the foregoingdiscussion it will be understood that among the various objectives ofthe present invention are:

the provision of a new and novel apparatus for fabri- I cating wirememory braid;

to provide apparatus of the above-described character which is ofsimplified construction;

to provide apparatus of the above-described character which is fullyautomatic in its operation;

to provide apparatus of the above-described character which operates toweave a single address wire at a time in the desired coding pattern; and

the provision of apparatus of the above-described character wherebyaddress wires are automatically collected at each end in a desiredpattern.

These and other objectives of the present invention are efficientlyachieved by providing a carriagemounted, electro-mechanically actuatedcoding wand through which address wire is fed from a supply spool, and afixed linear array of pegs. As the carriage traverses the array of pegsthe coding wand is displaced to one of two positions in response toan'electro-optically actuated tape coding device such that the addresswire is routed to one side or the other of a given peg in the array,corresponding to a binary one or zero. At the end of the carriagetraverse the address wire is routed and held in a desired position abovea connector terminal and the carriage motion is reversed to weave thenext address wire without manual intervention.

The foregoing as well as other objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the various views of the appendeddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. '5 is a detailed schematic diagram of the coding wand solenoidcontrol circuit portion of the apparatus of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a detailed schematic diagram of the tape neously is a complextask which requires complex apparatus which is beyond the financialreach of many users of wire braid. With the complexity of the apparatusgoes the increased probability that errors will beintroduced into thefnished braid.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram'of an out-of-sync detection circuit ofutility in the practice of the present invention; and I V FIG. 8 is aschematic diagram of a coding error detection circuit which may be usedto advantage with the electro-optical sensing mechanism of FIG. 2C.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now to FIG. 1 there isillustrated a braid forming machine including a machine bed formed offirst and second substantially parallel rails and 12 on the top of eachof which is provided a track 14 and 16 respectively. To the first orfront rail 10 is removably secured one or more carrier plates 18 towhich a linear array of upstanding pegs 20 is affixed. The pegs 20 aredisposed such as to correspond to the disposition of the cores in thememory for which the braid is to be fabricated. As will be discussed inmore detail hereinbelow the upper portion 22 of each peg 20 preferablyhas an enlarged head portion with respect to the remainder thereof.

A carriage base plate 24 is provided with wheel assemblies 26 adapted toengage and roll upon the tracks 14 and 16 such as to traverse the arrayof pegs 20-. A supply spool 30 loaded with memory address wire 32 isdisposed in a receptacle 34 mounted on the carriage base plate 24. Awire guide 36 and braked pulley 38 are mounted on a plate 40 which is inturn mounted on an arm 42 which extends from the base plate 24 above thesupply spool 30. A single strand of insulated wire 32 which may beeither solid or stranded is thus fed from the spool 30, through the wireguide 36, and over the braked pulley 38 to a hollow coding wand 44. Thecoding wand 44 is fixed to the armature of first and second rotaryelectromagnets 46 and 48 which are mounted on the carriage base plate 24and extends to the plane in which the enlarged head portions 22 of thearray of pegs 20 are disposed. The wire 32 is encircled by the codingwand 44 such that when the wand position is changed the wire positionfollows. External commands from control logic to be presently describeddrive the two electromagnets such that the coding wand 44 is driven toone side or the other of the pegs 20. The electromagnets 46 and 48 arepreferably mechanically arranged such that the coding wand 44 whenelectrically pulled by one is mechanically pushed by the other, thusincreasing the speed with which the finger may be moved from one side ofthe array of pegs 20 to the other thereby increasing coding speed. Anelectro-optical sensing mechanism shown generally at 50, and to bedescribed in detail hereinbelow is mounted under the carriage base plateand providescarriage position information, as well as tape read andadvance commands to the external control logic (not shown). Theelectrooptical sensing mechanism is coupled to the control logic viaa flexiblecable 52 which also includes the conductors which couple the controllogic output tothe electromagnets 46 and 48.

' At each end of the braid forming apparatus there are provided, wirepick-up units designated generally at 54 and 55 to be described indetail hereinbelow. The pickup units operate to hold the continuous wireused to form the multiple wire braid, establish the wire terminationorder and fix the length of wire between the braid and the terminationzone.

In operation the carriage 24 is driven, preferably by a variable speedelectric motor (not shown), such that it traverses the length of thearray of pegs 20. The electro-optical sensing mechanism 50 couplescarriage position information and tape read commands to the externalcontrol logic which in turn drives the electromagnets 46 and 48 such asto position the coding wand 44 on the desired side of each peg 20. Thewire 32 is thus woven in the desired pattern about the enlarged portions22 of pegs 20.-On the completion of a traverse of the carriage 24 thewire 32 is pushed downward about the narrower portion of the pegs 20 bya compactor comrising a plurality of flexible tines 56 fixed to arotatable rod 58 disposed parallel to the array of pegs 20. The wires ofthe braid thus are loosely deposited about the base of the pegs 20 onthe carrier plate 18.

. When the desired number of address wires have been laid down in thedesired pattern they may be sprayed with a low surface tension, mildsolvent to bond the wire insulation together prior to their removal fromthe carrier plate. In this manner inadvertent coding changes duringhandling of the finished braid are precluded.

With reference to FIGS. 2A and 28 there are shown two views of aneleetro-optical sensing mechanism useful with the apparatus of FIG. 1.This unit is illustrated for convenience as being disposed to the rearof the apparatus of FIG. 1 and comprises an array of light sources 60a-eand photoelectric detectors 62a-e disposed in alignment on oppositesides of a U-shaped support member 64 affixed to the under side of thecarriage base plate 24. An aperture plate 66 is adjustably affixed tothe machine bed rail 12 and extends upwardly between the light sources60 and detector elements 62. The aperture plate 66 is provided with alinear array of apertures for each light source/detector pair, in thepreferred embodiment six channels being used. In operation the lightsource/detector array moves with the carriage base plate 24 as ittraverses the array of pegs '20 and thus traverses the length of thefixed aperture plate 66. Each light source 60 is coupled to a remotepower supply (not shown) via leads 68 and each detector element iscoupled to the external control logic (not shown) via leads 69.

In the implementation of the present invention the external controllogic includes a paper or magnetic tape reader. The memory codingpattern is stored on the tape and the movement of the coding wand 44 ofFIG. 1 is controlled by the control logic. Reading of the tape is,however, slaved to the movement of the carriage 24 through theelectro-optical sensing mechanism 50.

Although a variety of data storage devices could be used in the practiceof this invention it is preferred that a tape reader employing astandard ASCII code be used. With this type of system the wire codingdata in octal format may be stored in channels 1-3 of the tape andchannels 4-7 may be used for storage of the noncoding or machineinstruction data. As the carriage traverses, the electro-optical sensingmechanism will sequentially select from the three coding data bits ineach ASCII octalgroup and forward the information to the coding wandcontrol circuits.

As stated above the electro-optical sensing mecha nism 5.0 ispreferablya six channel arrangment as illustrated in FIG. 28. Channel CPcontains a carriage position code having an aperture corresponding toeach opening between adjacent pegs 20. Thus at any time that detector62a receives light through aCP aperture from light source 600 the codingwand 44 of FIG. 1 is at a position.between two pegs 20 and may be movedfrom one side to the other of the pegs. In the preferred embodimentthree channels, A-C, provide tape read commands which instruct theexternal tape reader to read the next code bit stored at that positionon the tape. At each bit position the tape will have stored either abinary zero or one which will determine the side of the peg 20 to whichthe coding wand 44 is to pass.

Each tape read aperture A-C is slightly wider than the carriage positionapertures such that the reading of the code from the tape isaccomplished by the time the carriage position is such that the codingfinger 44 may be moved. Each tape read command is thus generated at theleading edge of each channel A, B and C aperture. The fact that eachtape read aperture is slightly wider than the carriage positionapertures permits the electro-optical sensing mechanism tooperate withthe carriage traversing in either direction. The three individual taperead command channels A-C are used to conserve physical space on theaperture plate 66 and to permit more efficient use of the coding tapesince three sequential bits of coding information may be stored per tapeposition.

Further, by using a combination of two of the three .tape read" channelsper bit it is possible to determine the direction of carriage travel andassure that the wand position commands will be appropriate to thatdirection of travel. It is of course possible to vary this arrangementto provide more or fewer bits of coding information per tape position byproviding more or fewer channels in the electro-optical sensingmechanism. The ADV channel of the aperture plate 66 provides thetape'advance command to the tape reader, i.e., after all bits at a giventape position have been read detector 62c senses light through the ADVchannel aperture from light source 60c and the tape is advanced to thenext, read position. The tape advance aperture is disposed inoverlapping alignment with the center of the tape read" apertures inchannels A and C, i.e., the combination corresponding to the last tapechannel to be read at the tape position. The tape is advanced at theleading edge of the ADV channel aperture and since these aperturesoverlap the tape read apertures the mechanism is operative with thecoding wand traversing in either direction. Channel EC of the apertureplate is provided with an extended aperture at each end of the plate andprovides an indication that the carriage has reached the end of theaddress wire coding portion of its traverse. When detector 62 f receiveslight through the EC channel of the aperture plate 66 from light source60f,- a signal is applied through the control logic to switch thecarriage drive motor to a relatively higher speed, lock the coding wandin a preselected position, enable the wire termination mechanism andinitiate reversal of the control logic and drive motor as will bediscussed in more detail hereinbelow.

It will be understood that by using the electro-optical sensingmechanism 50 to control an external tape reader rather than to actuallyprovide the coding commands, any wire coding arrangement may be woven ona given peg layout by changing the coding tape. Conversely, a given wirecoding arrangement may be woven on any peg layout by changing the pegarrangement and electro-optical aperture plate. Further, since the wirecoding is controlled by the'tape reader which is in turn slaved to themovement of the carriage, the braid forming apparatus may operate at anydesired speed and timing problems are reduced to a minimum.

The electro-optical sensing mechanism 50 of FIG. 1 is shown at the rearof the braid forming machine for convenience in illustrating the overallapparatus. In actual implementation of the sensing mechanism, however,it is preferred that the coding plate and peg carrier be integrated in asingle structure in order that misalignment of the coding plate and pegarray is reduced to a minimum. This arrangement is illustrated in thepartial end view with portions cut away of FIG. 2C. In' this preferredembodiment elements common to those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A areidentified with like reference numerals.

, The forward rail 10 is provided with a forward extending support plate11 and the U-shaped member 64 carrying the array of light sources 60 andthe photoelectric detectors 62 is affixed to the underside of thecarriage base plate 24. The wire 32 is passed over pulleys 13, 15 and 17and is thus directed through the tip of the coding wand 44. As statedabove the coding wand is fixed to the armature 19 of the rotaryelectromagnets 46 and 48, only 48 being illustrated. This embodimentdiffers from that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A in that the carrier plate towhich the array of pegs 20 are affixed and the aperture plate whichextends upwardly between the light sources 60 and detectors 62 areformed in a single structure 21. Since the arrangement of apertures isuniquely related to the linear peg array and to change one requires acorresponding change of the other,.both fabrication and use of theapparatus is facilitated by integrating the peg carrier and apertureplates into a single structure. Misalignment of the aperture array withrespect to the peg array is substantially eliminated since both arereplaced as a single nonadjustable unit.

In order that a codingerror detection provision may be incorporated, thecoding wand 44 may be provided with a light opaque tab or shield 45 atits upper end. First and second light sources (not shown) andphotoelectric detectors 47 and 49 are disposed in an arrangement similarto that of light sources 60 and detectors 62. The arrangement is suchthat when the coding wand 44 is in one of its two coding positions thetab 45 will block the light falling on one or the other of the detectorelements 47 or 49. An output signal from detector 49, for example, mayindicate that the coding wand 44 is in the binary 0 coding position.Correspondingly an output from detector 47 would indicate the coding ofa binary l These detector outputs may be coupled to error detectioncircuitry, to be described hereinbelow for comparison with the codinginstruction from the tape reader. A dissimilarity may'thus be used asthe criterion for actuating an alarm and/or automatically stopping themachine.

FIG. 3 illustrates in more detail the structure and operation of theaddress wire terminating mechanism of the present invention. Althoughthe wire pick-up unit 54 of FIG. 1 will differ in the coding detailsfrom pickup unit 55 their basic operation is the same. Specifically,unit 55 may provide for coupling a plurality of address wires in commonto a single connector terminal for coupling to a switch, whereas unit 54may provide for coupling each address wire -via individual pins of aconnector to individual drivers. Unit 54, being the more complex andincorporating all the features of unit 7 55, will be described indetail.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 the wire terminating mechanism basicallycomprises a flat plate having groups of wire holding fingers 72, havinga mounting 73 for connectors 75 and adapted for rotation on a mountingshaft 74. As described hereinabove, when the carriage reaches the end ofa wire coding traverse, as sensed by the electro-optical sensingmechanism, the coding wand 44 is locked in a preselected position (i.e.,either I or 0) while the carriage continues to move.

The coding wand 44 continues laying down address wire 32 as it passesover a selected connector pin 76 of a connector 75 mounted on the plate70 of the wire terminating mechanism. When the coding finger 44 haspassed between the wire holding fingers 72 the plate 70 is rotated inthe direction indicated such that when the carriage motion is reversedthe coding wand 44 will pass on the opposite side of the desired wirepickup finger. Reversal of carriage motion may easily be effected by thecarriage tripping a micro switch (not shown) at the end of its travel toactuate motor direction control solenoids (not shown). In order toaccomplish this stepwise rotation of the plate 70 there is provided atthe under side thereof a staggered double row of downwardly extendingpins 80 and a pair of plate step arms 82 each activated by an associatedsolenoid 84. The

mounting shaft 74 has a rotational bias applied thereto via spring 86.When the plate 70 is thus under torsional bias the alternate activationof solenoids 84 operates to alternately move the respective step arms 82laterally away from blocking the pins 80 such that the plate 70 with thewire pickup fingers 72 moves the desired distance at the completion ofeach traverse of the carriage.

Although the wire pickup fingers 72 may be rigidly affixed to the plate70 it is preferred in the practice of the invention that they bepivotally attached to the plate and outwardly biased by springs 88 suchthat the address wire 32 is maintained under slight tension. In thismanner the wires are more easily maintained in proper position withrespect to the connector pins 76. When the memory braid is completed theindividual wires may easily be soldered to their respective connectorpins and the looped end trimmed off. Further, although not specificallyshown a test connector may also be coupled to the connector 75 throughthe plate 70 and the memory braid tested before its removal from theapparatus. Finally, if desired, a structural support 90 including aroller bearing 92 may be disposed beneath the plate 70. The plate 70 maybe also provided with a micro switch 94 which operates to eitherautomatically shut off the apparatus when a braid is completed or toactivate a plate return motor (not shown) to return the plate 70 to itsoriginal position if it is desired to terminate a number of wires incommon. As stated hereinabove the wire terminating unit 55 (FIG. 1) isessentially identical in priciples of construction and operation andwill not be described in detail. Any differences between units 54 and 55will be attributable to the type of termination desired, e.g., unit 55may terminate each individual wire 32 to individual connector pins 76whereas unit 54 may operate to terminate groups of wires in common.Basic operation, however, will be the same.

In FIG. 4 there is shown a schematic electrical block diagram of theapparatus of the present invention. Wire braid coding is controlled bythe machine control and logic circuits 98 to be described in more detailhereinbelow. These control and logic circuits 98 receive the carriageposition, tape read, tape advance and end of coding signals from theelectro-optical sensing mechanism 100, end of carriage traverse signalsfrom the end control circuits 104 and 106 and the coding wand positiondata from the tape reader 108. The outputs of the machine logic andcontrol circuits are signals which control the speed and direction ofthe carriage drive motor 110 and the coding wand control solenoids 112.

As stated above the right and left end control circuits 104 and 106 maybe mechanically actuated via the tripping of a micro switch by thecarriage and provide an output signal to their respective wire pick-upunit stepping means 114 and 116 respectively and actuate the wirecompactor 118.

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates that portion of the machine control andlogic circuitry which operate to provide the coding wand solenoidsignals. The A, B and C channels of the electro-optical sensingmechanism are applied to input gates 120-130 with a signal whichindicates the direction in which the coding wand is traversing (i.e.,the motor direction signal). The outputs of gates 120-130 are appliedvia gates 131-136 to gates 138-142 where the signals are gated withbinary data pulses from the appropriate channel of the tape reader. Theoutputs of gates 138-142 arethen gated together in gate 144 to provide abinary coding instruction. This instruction pulse is applied via a dataregister to the solenoid drive circuits together with the carriageposition pulse from the electro-optical sensing mechanism. The carriageposition pulse, CP, is gated with the coding instruction pulse in gate146 the output from which is applied with the carriage position pulse togate 148, and as one input to gate 150. The output of gate 148 isapplied as one input to gate 152. Gates 150 and 152 each have as theirrespective second inputs the output of the other. The output of gate 150will thus be a pulsed signal indicative of a binary 0 and is applied viaamplifying gate 154 to the cathode ofdiode 156. In a like manner theoutput of gate 152 representing a binary l is coupled via amplifyinggate 158 to the cathode of diode 160. A bias voltage, V in the preferredembodiment being +5 v. d.c. is applied via resistors 162 and 164 to theanodes of diodes 156 and respectively. Any signal passed by diode 156 iscoupled through diodes 166 and 168 to the base of a first solenoiddriver transistor 170. In the same fashion any signal passed by diode160 is coupled through diodes 172 and 174 to the base of a secondsolenoid driver transistor 176. The emitters of transistors and 176 arecoupled together and the collectors are coupled to the coding wandcontrol solenoids (not shown). Thus when a pulse is applied to either ofthe grounded emitter transistors 170 or 176 an appropriate solenoidoperating voltage, V preferably +12 v. d.c. is applied through eitherdiode 178 or 180 respectively to the proper solenoid and is removed fromthe other. A pair of balancing resistors 182 and 184 may also couple thebase of each transistor 170 and 176 respectively to ground potential.

v FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the tape reader control portion ofthe machine control and logic circuits (98 of FIG. 4). The tape readercontrol circuits advance the tape in the reaader after all data bits atthe tape position have been read, distinguish between true data bits andmachine instructions, and check whether the last data bit was entered inthe last location on the wire. To preclude any adverse effect ofmechanical jitter in the electro-optical sensing mechanism a tapeadvance signal will only be generated when signals are coincident in theADV channel and either the A or C data channels of the sensingmechanism. Signals from channels A and C are applied via OR gate 186 togates 188 and 190 and the ADV signal is applied to gates 190 and 192.The outputs of gates 188-192 are applied to gate 194 the output fromwhich is fed back as the second input to gates 188 and 192. The outputsof gates 188 and 192 are applied through gate 196 to provide a true tapeadvance signal so long as ADV and either A or C (whichever occurs first)are present.

Gates 198-206 from a combinatorial logic circuit which tests for theproper signals from the non-coding data channels on the tape and fromthe tape reader timing pulse. Gate 208 permits tape advance action inthe wire-end zones when a signal is present in the EC channel oftheelectro-optical sensing mechanism and machine instructions may bepermitted to control the tape reader.

Gate 210 is an OR gate which receives the outputs from the combinatoriallogic circuit comprising gates 198-206 and from gate 208 and provides aninput to a sequential logic circuit including gates 212 to 220 whichgenerates the tape advance and tape stop signals. When a true tapeadvance signal is present at the output of gate 196 the circuitcomprising gates 212-218 latches and a tape reader brake release isprovided at the output of gate 218 and gate 220 provides the tapeadvance signal to the tape drive mechanism. When the proper signals fromthe non-coding data channels on the tape and the tape reader timingpulse are present at the inputs of gates 198 and 202 the sequentiallogic circuit comprising gates 212-218 is reset, gate 218 applies abraking signal to the tape reader and gate 220 removes the tape advancesignal. It is necessary that the non-coding data channels of the tape bein their proper phase for proper circuit operation. In the event thatthis phase is not proper, tape advance will continue until a characterappears on the tape in which their phase is proper.

When the tape and braid forming machine are in proper synchronization,coding data bits will appear only in the coding zone and machineinstructions or non-coding data will only appear in the wire end zonesof the carriage traverse. FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of anout-of-sync detector circuit which may be included in the machinecontrol and logic circuits.

The preferred tape format as-stated above is such that each sequence ofa preselected number of coding 1 data bits is followed by at least twomachine instructions, i.e., carriage reverse and line feed. Thus afterthe last bit is coded on a given traverse the coding wand will proceedinto a wire-end zone and the tape willadvance to the first machineinstruction. Channel 5 from the tape reader is preferred to be alwaystrue for a coding data character and false for a machine instruction.That signal may thus be coupled with the EC channel from theelectro-optical sensing mechanism via gates 222 and 224 and diodes 226,228 and 230 to provide an out-of-sync signal whenever a coding datacharacter appears after the carriage has completed a coding traverse. Insuch a.case a voltage, V (preferably +5 v. d.c.) is coupled to the baseof transistor 232 which has a grounded emitter and a collector coupledin parallel through the winding of a relay 234 and diode 236 to avoltage source, V (preferably +12 v. d.c.). Thus, whenever a signal fromtape channel 5 and EC are coincident, V is applied to the winding ofrelay 234 which operates to close the normally open contacts 238 therebyactuating any suitable type of alarm 240.

Finally, with reference to FIG. 8 there is schematically illustrated acoding error detection circuit which may be used to advantage in thepractice of the present invention as illustrated in FIGS. 2C and 4. Asdescribed above with reference to FIG. 2C the position of the codingwand 44 is monitored by -two light sourcedetector assemblies. The lightshield 45 attached to the upper end of the coding wand alternatelycovers or exposes one of the two detector elements 47 or 49 inaccordance with the position of the coding wand 44. The output signalsare indicative of whether the coding wand is in the binary l or 0"position and are compared with the coding instruction signal from thetape reader. In the event there is a mismatch, e.g., a binary linstruction when the coding wand is in the 0 coding position, an alarmis sounded and the apparatus automatically stopped. 1

The binary 0" coding instruction is applied to a first exclusive OR gate242 together with the output of the 0 wand position detector outputsignal. This gate detects a mismatch between a binary 1" codinginstruction and ajcoding wand 0 position. The output error signal fromgate 242 is in the form of a ground potential at the input of NOR gate244 which causes the output thereof to rise to a positive voltage. Thispositive voltage is applied to the input of NAND gate 246 together withan error strobe signal. The error strobe generator 247 may, for example,be a conventional flip-flop delay circuit which receives as is input thecarriage position signal, CP, from the electro-optical sensingmechanism. In the event that an error is present the output of NAND gate246 is coupled to an error latching circuit comprising cross coupledgates 248 and 250. A reset switch 252 may be provided at the input ofgate 250. to momentarily apply ground potential to the latching circuit.The output of the error latching circuit may, be coupled to the alarmcircuit illustrated in FIG. 7 and would be applied to the base oftransistor 232. Alternatively, of course, a separate alarm system couldbe provided.

The second exclusive OR gate 254 receives the output of l wand positiondetector of FIG. 2C. The binary 0 coding instruction is passed throughan inverter 256 to put the 0" signal in its complementary state suchthat a positive voltage is present at the input of gate 254 for themismatch condition.

The error strobegenerator 247 output functions to inhibit NAND gate246during time intervals when false errors would tend to be present. Suchintervals occur when data changes prior to the generation of a codinginstruction. A similar false error may arise as the bit selection pulsesfrom the electro-optical sensing mechanism are sequenced. During theswitching interval to the next bit in sequence the data presented is inan unpredictable state. Thusthe possibility for false error detection isminimized.

While the present invention has been described particularly as a twoposition wire braid forming machine it will be understood that theprinciples of the invention are equally applicable to providing multipleposition wire routing. In such an embodiment the machine could, forexample, provide efficient wiring harness fabrication.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the Applicants haveprovided a new and novel wire braid forming apparatus wherein theobjectives set forth hereinabove are efficiently met. Since certainchanges in the above construction will occur to those skilled in the artwithout departure from the scope of the invention it is intended thatall matter set forth in the foregoing description or shown in theappended drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Having described what is new and novel and desired to secure by LettersPatent, what is claimed is:

1. Wire braid forming apparatus comprising an array of spaced apartupstanding pegs;

a mounting means adapted to continuously traverse said array of pegs;

a supply of wire;

a coding wand carried by said mounting means, adapted to move at one endto one of a plurality of positions with respect to said array of pegs,and adapted at said end to guide said wire;

means for sensing the position of said coding wand with respect to saidarray of pegs and producing a synchronizing signal indicative thereof;and

means for driving said coding wand to a selected one synchronism withthe alignment of said coding wand with the spaces between said pegs;

whereby as said mounting means continuously traverses said array of pegsand said coding wand is driven to selected positions with respect tosaid pegs said wire is routed from said supply through said coding wandinto a selected pattern with respect to said pegs.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said array of upstanding pegsis a linear array,

said mounting means traverses the length of said linear array, and

said coding wand is adapted to be driven between adjacent pegs to one oftwo positions on either side of said array.

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said mounting means comprisesfirst and second substantially parallel rails, a wheeled carriageadapted to engage and roll upon said rails, and said linear array ofpegs being disposed adjacent to and parallel with one of said rails. 4.Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said supply of wire is adapted.for mounting on and movement with said mounting means. 5. Apparatus asrecited in claim 2 wherein said coding wand driving means includes arotary electromagnet disposed on said mounting means, and having anarmature affixed to said coding wand.

6. Apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein each said peg in said arrayis formed of a base portion of a selected dimension and has anenlargedhead portion, the enlarged portion of all of said pegs beinglinearly arranged in substantially a single plane; and said wire guidingend of said coding wand extends substantially to said plane such as toroute said wire about saidenlarged portions of said pegs. 7. Apparatusas recited in claim 6 further including a wire compactor comprising anextended support member adapted for rotation about a longitudinal axisdisposed substantially parallel to said array of pegs, and a pluralityof flexible tines'extending from said support member intermediate saidpegs such that on rotation of said support member said tines remove wirerouted about said enlarged por- 'tions of said pegs and deposit it aboutsaid base portions of said pegs. 8. Apparatus as recited in claim 2further including means for sensing the completion of a traverse by saidmounting means of said array of pegs, and

means for reversing the direction in which said mounting means traversessaid array at the end of each such traverse such that said mountingmeans repeatedly reciprocally traverses said array.

9. Apparatus as recited in claim 8 further including means disposed ateach end of said array for receiving and retaining said wire at the endof each said traverse of said array by said mounting means.

10. Apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein each said wire receiving andretaining means comprises a flat plate adapted for rotation about avertical axis disposed in substantial alignment with said linear array,

a plurality of spaced apart wire holding fingers disposed on said platein an arcuate array centered at said vertical axis, and

means for rotating said plate in preselected increments at the end ofeach said traverse such that said wire is routed by said coding wandaround one of said wire holding fingers on said plate.

11. Apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said wire holding fingersare pivotally disposed on said plate, and further including means foroutwardly biasing said fingers such as to hold said wire under apreselected tension.

12. Apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said plate rotating meanscomprises means for torsionally biasing said plate about said verticalaxis,

a staggered double row of spaced apart downwardly extending pins affixedto the underside of said plate in an arcuate pattern centered at saidvertical axis,

a pair of plate stepping arms extending upwardly to alternately engagesaid downwardly extending pins,

and

means for alternately disengaging said stepping arms from said pins,

whereby said plate is rotated in preselected increments determined bythe spacing between said pins.

13. Apparatus as recited in claim 10 further including means forremovably mounting an electrical connector on said plate such that wirerouted around said wire holding fingers is also routed and retained overselected terminals of said connector.

14. Apparatus as recited in claim 2 further including a carrier plateadapted to receive and retain said linear array of pegs in a fixedrelationship with one another.

15. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 further including a codinginstruction storate means coupled to said sensing means and responsiveto the output therefrom to provide a signal indicative of the positionto which said coding wand is to be driven.

16. Apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein said sensing meanscomprises a vertically linear array of light sources,

a like vertically linear array of photoelectric detector elements spacedapart from and in substantial alignment with said array of lightsources,

said light source and said detector arrays being disposed on and movablewith said mounting means,

an aperture plate interposed between said light source and detectorarrays in a fixed spatial relationship with respect to said array ofpegs, and having a plurality of apertures each corresponding to a spacebetween adjacent pegs of said array, and

each said detector element producing an output signal when an apertureof said aperture place is aligned with a light source and detector ofsaid array.

17. Apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said coding instructionstorage means comprises a binary coded tape having a plurality of codinginstructions stored at each position along the length thereof, and

a tape reader coupled to said photoelectric detector element array andresponsive to the output therefrom to read coding instructions from saidtape and provide an output signal indicative of the position to whichsaid coding wand is to be driven,

said aperture plate further including arrays of coding I aperturescorresponding to the coding instruction on said tape to be read by saidtape reader, and tape advance apertures corresponding to the last codinginstruction to be read at a selected position on said tape, and

said detector elements providing output signals to said tape reader forcontrolling the reading and advancing of said tape.

18. Apparatus as recited in claim 17 further including a light opaqueshield affixed to the end of said coding wand opposite said wire guidingend,

first and second light sources dispersed adjacent a first side of saidshield,

first and second photoelectric detector elements disindicative of theside of said array of pegs to which said coding wand is driven, and

means coupled to said first and second detector elements and to saidtape reader for comparing the signal indicative of the position to whichsaid coding wand is to be driven and the signal indicative of the sideof said array of pegs to which said coding wand is driven and produce acoding error signal when said signals from said detector elements andsaid tape reader do not correspond.

19. Apparatus as recited in claim 17 wherein said aperture plate andsaid peg carrier plate are integrally formed of a single sheet of lightopaque material whereby said arrays of apertures are substantiallypermanently aligned with said array of pegs.

20.- Apparatus as recited in claim 8 further including means coupled tosaid coding wand driving means for sensing the direction in which saidmounting means traverses said array of pegs.

1. Wire braid forming apparatus comprising an array of spaced apartupstanding pegs; a mounting means adapted to continuously traverse saidarray of pegs; a supply of wire; a coding wand carried by said mountingmeans, adapted to move at one end to one of a plurality of positionswith respect to said array of pegs, and adapted at said end to guidesaid wire; means for sensing the position of said coding wand withrespect to said array of pegs and producing a synchronizing signalindicative thereof; and means for driving said coding wand to a selectedone synchronism with the alignment of said coding wand with the spacesbetween said pegs; whereby as said mounting means continuously traversessaid array of pegs and said coding wand is driven to selected positionswith respect to said pegs said wire is routed from said supply throughsaid coding wand into a selected pattern with respect to said pegs. 2.Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said array of upstanding pegs isa linear array, said mounting means traverses the length of said lineararray, and said coding wand is adapted to be driven between adjacentpegs to one of two positions on either side of said array.
 3. Apparatusas recited in claim 2 wherein said mounting means comprises first andsecond substantially parallel rails, a wheeled carriage adapted toengage and roll upon said rails, and said linear array of pegs beingdisposed adjacent to and parallel with one of said rails.
 4. Apparatusas recited in claim 1 wherein said supply of wire is adapted formounting on and movement with said mounting means.
 5. Apparatus asrecited in claim 2 wherein said coding wand driving means includes arotary electromagnet disposed on said mounting means, and having anarmature affixed to said coding wand.
 6. Apparatus as recited in claim 2wherein each said peg in said array is formed of a base portion of aselected dimension and has an enlarged head portion, the enlargedportion of all of said pegs being linearly arranged in substantially asingle plane; and said wire guiding end of said coding wand extendssubstantially to said plane such as to route said wire about saidenlarged portions of said pegs.
 7. Apparatus as recited in claim 6further including a wire compactor comprising an extended support memberadapted for rotation about a longitudinal axis disposed substantiallyparallel to said array of pegs, and a plurality of flexible tinesextending from said support member intermediate said pegs such that onrotation of said support member said tines remove wire routed about saidenlarged portions of said pegs and deposit it about said base portionsof said pegs.
 8. Apparatus as recited in claim 2 further including meansfor sensing the completion of a traverse by said mounting means of saidarray of pegs, and means for reversing the direction in which saidmounting means traverses said array at the end of each such traversesuch that said mounting means repeatedly reciprocally traverses saidarray.
 9. Apparatus as recited in claim 8 further including meansdisposed at each end of said array for receiving and retaining said wireat the end of each said traverse of said array by said mounting means.10. Apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein each said wire receiving andretaining means comprises a flat plate adapted for rotation about avertical axis disposed in substantial alignment with said linear array,a plurality of spaced apart wire holding fingers disposed on said platein an arcuate array centered at said vertical axis, and means forrotating said plate in preselected increments at the end of each saidtraverse such that said wire is routed by said coding wand around one ofsaid wire holding fingers on said plate.
 11. Apparatus as recited inclaim 10 wherein said wire holding fingers are pivotally disposed onsaid plate, and further including means for outwardly biasing saidfingers such as to hold said wire under a preselected tension. 12.Apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said plate rotating meanscomprises means for torsionally biasing said plate about said verticalaxis, a staggered double row of spaced apart downwardly extending pinsaffixed to the underside of said plate in an arcuate pattern centered atsaid vertical axis, a pair of plate stepping arms extending upwardly toalternately engage said downwardly extending pins, and means foralternately disengaging said stepping arms from said pins, whereby saidplate is rotated in preselected increments determined by the spacingbetween said pins.
 13. Apparatus as recited in claim 10 furtherincluding means for removably mounting an electrical connector on saidplate such that wire routed around said wire holding fingers is alsorouted and retained over selected terminals of said connector. 14.Apparatus as recited in claim 2 further including a carrier plateadapted to receive and retain said linear array of pegs in a fixedrelationship with one another.
 15. Apparatus as recited in claim 1further including a coding instruction storate means coupled to saidsensing means and responsive to the output therefrom to provide a signalindicative of the position to which said coding wand is to be driven.16. Apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein said sensing meanscomprises a vertically linear array of light sources, a like verticallylinear array of photoelectric detector elements spaced apart from and insubstantial alignment with said array of light sources, said lightsource and said detector arrays being disposed on and movable with saidmounting means, an aperture plate interposed between said light sourceand detector arrays in a fixed spatial relationship with respect to saidarray of pegs, and having a plurality of apertures each corresponding toa space between adjacent pegs of said array, and each said detectorelement producing an output signal when an aperture of said apertureplace is aligned with a light source and detector of said array. 17.Apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said coding instruction storagemeans comprises a binary coded tape having a plurality of codinginstructions stored at each position along the length thereof, and atape reader coupled to said photoelectric detector element array andresponsive to the output therefrom to read coding instructions from saidtape and provide an output signal indicative of the position to whichsaid coding wand is to be driven, said aperture plate further includingarrays of coding apertures corresponding to the coding instruction onsaid tape to be read by said tape reader, and tape advance aperturescorresponding to the last coding instruction to be read at a selectedposition on said tape, and said detector elements providing outputsignals to said tape reader for controlling the reading and advancing ofsaid tape.
 18. Apparatus as recited in claim 17 further including alight opaque shield affixed to the end of said coding wand opposite saidwire guiding end, first and second light sources dispersed adjacent afirst side of said shield, first and second photoelectric detectorelements disposed adjacent the opposite side of said shield and insubstantial alignment with said first and second light sources, saidshield operating to interrupt light falling on one said detector whensaid coding wand is in a first position with respect to said pegs and tointerrupt light falling on the other said detector when said coding wandis in said other position with respEct to said pegs, said detectorsoperative to produce an output signal indicative of the side of saidarray of pegs to which said coding wand is driven, and means coupled tosaid first and second detector elements and to said tape reader forcomparing the signal indicative of the position to which said codingwand is to be driven and the signal indicative of the side of said arrayof pegs to which said coding wand is driven and produce a coding errorsignal when said signals from said detector elements and said tapereader do not correspond.
 19. Apparatus as recited in claim 17 whereinsaid aperture plate and said peg carrier plate are integrally formed ofa single sheet of light opaque material whereby said arrays of aperturesare substantially permanently aligned with said array of pegs. 20.Apparatus as recited in claim 8 further including means coupled to saidcoding wand driving means for sensing the direction in which saidmounting means traverses said array of pegs.